Jan. 22, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Vanderbilt’s women’s tennis team has been picked to finish fourth in the SEC Eastern Division in a vote by the league’s head coaches that was announced Friday by the conference office.
The 22nd-ranked Commodores received 31 votes, tying with Tennessee for third in the East but the Lady Vols received one first-place vote as the regular season champion therefore they were bumped to third and VU fell to fourth. Florida was picked to win the SEC East after receiving 71 votes and 14 points ahead of second-place Georgia while South Carolina and Kentucky round out the final two spots in the east.
Ole Miss was tabbed by the league’s coaches to take the top spot in the western division, receiving 66 votes. Following the Rebels in the west was Alabama finishing just four points behind Ole Miss with 62 votes. Arkansas came in third with 50 votes while Auburn, LSU and Mississippi State rounded out the west.
No. 8 Florida was picked as the overall favorite to win the regular season conference title, receiving 11 of the 12 first-place votes. Tennessee received the only other first-place vote.
The `Dores will open its dual season this weekend in Colorado, as they face-off against Colorado and Denver.
The preseason poll is voted on by the SEC Women’s Tennis Coaches and is based on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 count. The complete tally for the poll is below.
2010 SEC Women’s Tennis Coaches Preseason Poll
Eastern Division
1. Florida 71
2. Georgia 57
3. Tennessee 31
4. Vanderbilt 31
5. South Carolina 29
6. Kentucky 12
Western Division
1. Ole Miss 66
2. Alabama 62
3. Arkansas 50
4. Auburn 32
5. LSU 29
6. Mississippi State 12
Overall Regular Season Champion: Florida (11 votes); Tennessee (1).